The Alpha's Secret Legacy

Chapter 6

Harry's POV

I woke up earlier than usual.

6:30 AM.

The kind of early that feels too quiet for a house full of chaos.

I stared at the ceiling for a moment before dragging myself out of bed.

Bathroom first. Routine. Brush teeth, shower, same motions on autopilot.

By the time I was dressed in a loose shirt and joggers, I was already thinking about breakfast.

Cooking usually helped clear my head.

And last night... I needed that.

Because of Christine.

She'd been off. Not just "quiet" off—different.

And I had a feeling I played a part in that.

Great.

Just what I needed.

Downstairs, I started cooking: bacon, sausages, eggs, ham. I made tea for everyone—Liam, Louis, Zayn, Christine... and myself.

Niall, of course, got milk.

He doesn't handle caffeine well. At all. One time he had tea and acted like he'd discovered electricity.

I was finishing up when I heard it.

Heavy footsteps on the stairs.

Only one person moves like that.

"Niall," I muttered.

A second later, he appeared in the kitchen like a child who smelled food from miles away.

"Yay, can I eat now?"

He gave me the full puppy-dog look.

It didn't work.

"Not yet," I said. "Wait for everyone."

His face dropped instantly.

"Aw..."

"Together," I added.

He sighed dramatically. "Fine."

Then he wandered off again.

Within minutes, the others trickled in—Zayn first, then Liam, then Louis. Everyone sat down slowly, still waking up.

Except Christine wasn't there.

I frowned.

"Has anyone seen Chrissy?"

They all shook their heads.

"Nope," Liam said.

"Probably sleeping," Louis added.

"I'll wake her," Niall said immediately, already standing.

He bolted upstairs before anyone could stop him.

A few seconds later—

"CHRISSY??"

His voice echoed through the house like an alarm.

Too loud.

Too sharp.

Then—

"Harry! Liam! Zayn! Louis—come up here!"

We all froze.

Something in his tone changed everything.

We ran.

All of us.

Upstairs in seconds.

"Niall, what happened?" I asked.

He looked at us—